Alloy of nickel and iron and a process for the production thereof



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NAPOLEON PETINOT, OF NEW YORK, AND ROBERT TURNBUL NEW YORK.

L, or NIAGARA FALLS,

ALLOY OF NICKEL AND IRON AND A. PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NAPOLEON PETINOT and ROBERT TURNBULL, citizens of the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada, respectively, and residents,

respectively, of the city, county, and State of New York, and of the city of Niagara Falls, county of Niagara, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Alloy of Nickel and Iron and a Process for the Production Thereof, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates generally to an alloy of nickel and iron with or without a carbon content and a process for the production thereof.

To those skilled in the art, it is well known that numerous attempts have been made to obtain directly from ore an alloy of nickel and iron,- but such attempts have met with unsatisfactory results since the product was so high in carbon as to be detrimental. Nickel steel is an example of such production.

In producing our alloy, we preferably start with a nickel matte, the principal elements of which are nickel, iron and sulfur,

the latter element being in combination with the two first named elements andshowing as sulfids of iron and nickel. Such a matte is obtained by smelting and bessemerizing a nickel ore such as garnerite which may be found in large quantities in New Caledonia. Such a matte may have an iron content of 30%, a nickel content of 40% and a sulfur content of 30% although each one of these elements may vary somewhat in percentage. f

Starting with such a matte we melt the same or use it in a molten condition as it comes from the Bessemer furnace. It should be melted in such an ordinary are electric. furnace with a basic hearth as is commonly used for the manufacture of electric steel. Having s0 melted the matte, we-

add asuflicient amount of burnt lime and carbon in the form of coke or coal so that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Application filed November 17, 1919. Serial No. 338,449.

produced is represented by the following equation.

2CO+2CaS+Fe+Ni. 5

When a matte having an iron content of 30%, a nickel content of 40% and a sulfur content of 30% is used, we preferably use the following mixture:

Matte 100 pounds.

Lime 65 pounds (theoretically 52.3.)

Coke 30 pounds.

When We start producing our alloy with a cold matte, we preferably add the lime and carbon with the matte. When this is done, it not only starts the desulfurization sooner but it also forms a blanket of slag, thus allowing a better regulation of the electric current in the furnace.

When all the charge is melted, the sulfur in the metallic bath drops to from 1% to 2%, the remaining part of sulfur combining, during the melting, with the lime, thus forming a calcium sulfid. After such melting the furnace is slightly tilted and the slag is completely skimmed off. A second slag composed of lime and carbon (preferably in the form of coke) and when melted the bath is strongly agitated with a rod. It is then found that a substantial part of the sulfur remaining in the metallic bath has passed to the slag leaving an alloy of iron, nickel and carbon. in varying quantities.

If the contained carbon is detrimental for the use to which the ferro-nickel is intended, an oxid of nickel or iron in small quantities may be added to the metallic bath and nickel comprising the charging into an is then added,

electric furnace with a basic hearth, of a cold matte having an iron, nickel and sulfurcontent, then charging into the furnace lime and carbon in such quantities that the sulfur content of the matte will be removed as'cal cium sulfid, then melting the charge and then skimming off the slag, then adding a second slag composed of lime and carbon, then smelting the same and then strongly agitating the bath with arod.

2. The method of making an alloy of iron and nickel comprising the melting in an arc. electric furnace with a basic hearth of a matte containing iron, nickel and sulfur in the presence of suflicient quantities of lime and carbon to cause all the sulfur content in the matte to combine as calcium sulfid and then adding small quantities of an oxid of nickel to the metallic bath whereby the carbon content may pletely removed as desired.

matte containing iron,

be partially or com- 3. The method of making an alloy of iron and nickel comprising the melting in an are electric furnace with a basic hearth of a nickel and sulfur in the presence of sufficient quantities of lime and carbon to cause all the sulfur content in the matte to combine as calcium sulfid and then adding small quantities of an oxid of iron to the metallic bath whereby the carbon content may be partially or completely removed as desired.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

NAPOLEON PETINOT. ,ROBERT' TURNBULL. 

